At least 12 killed, hundreds missing as ferry sinks in Bangladesh

A search is underway for the vessel, which sank near Dhaka, leaving at least 12 dead and hundreds more missing.

AFP: Munir Uz Zaman

A Bangladeshi ferry carrying at least 200 people has capsized in a river near the capital Dhaka, leaving at least 12 dead and hundreds more missing, officials say.

The MV Miraj-4 ferry capsized in stormy weather in the Meghna River at Rasulpur in Munshiganj district, 27 kilometres from Dhaka.

"We fear there will be more bodies inside the vessel and we cannot be sure of the number of passengers [on board]," Munshiganj district government administrator Saiful Hassan Badal said from the scene of the accident.

"We are receiving confusing figures on how many passengers [were on board] when it sank, but the number could range from 200 to 350."

The accident occurred at around 3:30pm (local time). The ferry had been going to the southern district of Shariatpur from the Bangladeshi capital.

Most of the passengers were city workers and students heading home for the weekend beginning on Friday.

Twelve bodies have been recovered so far, including those of women and children, according to Oliur Rahman, a police officer at the scene.

Search operation launched as survivors swim ashore

Local police chief Ferdous Ahmed says a search is underway for the vessel.

"The ferry is completely underwater. We are now trying to locate it," he said.

A rescue vessel sent from Dhaka reached the stricken ferry some three hours later, and Mr Saiful said firefighters and members of the coastguard, including divers, were involved in search efforts.

Bangladeshi coastguard diver Liton says he pulled out the body of a child of around five and saw several more bodies in the ferry.

Local police say some 40 people were able to swim ashore, despite strong currents and high waves whipped up by the storm.

"There was a sudden storm and we requested the boatswain [crewman] to anchor at the riverside but he ignored us ... and all on a sudden the ferry capsized within a few seconds," said Abdur Rahman, a 50-year-old passenger who had managed to swim ashore.

Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by more than 230 rivers.

Experts blame poorly maintained vessels, flaws in design and overcrowding for most of the tragedies.